Goal: Do not allow energy company to pass on the costs of toxic coal ash cleanup to its customers.

North Carolina’s Duke Energy, the largest electric company in the United States, is under fire for its plans to pass on the costs for environmental cleanup to consumers in the form of utility rate hikes. Apparently, the company, which has been responsible for a number of devastating coal ash spills and illegal drain pipe dumping activities, would rather have its customers foot the bill for their irresponsible actions than pay for them out of their own pocket.

Duke Energy’s request for increased rates is particularly bold given the fact that so many North Carolinians have suffered greatly as a result of their illegal and reckless behavior. In 2014, an accident at a Duke Energy facility spilled over 82,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River and caused widespread contamination. To this day, residents near Goldsboro have relied on bottled water due to concerns that their drinking supply contains unsafe levels of arsenic and lead among other contaminants.

The people of North Carolina will be suffering for years thanks to the negligent and at times illegal behavior that Duke Energy has demonstrated. It is unfair to force consumers to pay off the utility company’s cleanup costs. Sign this petition to demand that this rate hike be denied.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Finley,

Over the years, Duke Energy has been found responsible for illegally dumping waste into canals and other waterways and has also been found culpable for devastating coal ash spills, such as the infamous 2014 Dan River incident near Goldsboro. While the future estimated cleanup costs for these disasters is estimated to be over $129 million, it would seem logical that the energy company should be held accountable and take responsibility.

Duke Energy’s proposal to raise rates on consumers as a way to offset these costs is a bold and insulting move which will penalize the very customers who have been poisoned and potentially sickened due to coal ash exposure. We demand that you reject this proposal and insist that Duke Energy clean up for their own mess.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Rhiannon Fion

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This is a disgrace, the government needs to do their job and force this company to clean up their own mess instead of trying to have their customers pay for it. it makes me sick that they would try to do this.